Oklahoma woman and her 4 young kids found slain

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says Joshua Steven Durcho, 25, shown here in this March 29, 2004, file photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, is being sought as a suspect in a quintuple killing Monday, Jan. 12, 2008.

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) - A woman and her four young children were found slain in their apartment and authorities said Tuesday they were looking for a 25-year-old suspect.

The children ranged in age from 3 to 7.

The victims' bodies were found Monday by an officer who went to the apartment in this central Oklahoma community to check on the welfare of the occupants, said Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown.

Joshua Steven Durcho of El Reno was being sought as a suspect in the case, Brown said.

State Medical Examiner's office spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said the deaths were homicides but declined to elaborate.

The victims were identified as Summer Garas, 25; daughters Kirsten Rust, 7; Autumn Rust, 6; and Evynn Garas, 3; and son Teagin Rust, 4. Court records show that Summer Garas and her husband, Jason Garas, were divorced on Dec. 10.

Durcho, 25, was Summer's boyfriend, said James Franklin, whose wife is Summer Garas' former mother-in-law.

"That was wrong, there is nothing that can justify killing a mother and four kids," Franklin said. "I have to deal with this the rest of my life. I can't see my grandkids."

Prison records show Durcho was convicted of car theft as a juvenile and was sentenced to four years in prison in 2003 for unlawful possession of marijuana. He was released in February 2007, records show.

Brandy Higgins, whose mother lives in the same apartment building, said her mother heard a loud noise before police arrived about 4 p.m. Monday.

"All I know, my mom heard a loud boom, and I get a phone call," Higgins said.

She said her mother, Janice Dykes, 56, is disabled, spends much of her time around the apartment and had become close to the children who were slain.

"She's grown attached to the kids," said Higgins, 35, of El Reno. "Those were grandma's babies."